Blueberry River veto casts a long shadow
Implications of settlement between British Columbia and First Nations group go beyond development of massive Montney shale formation
The British Columbia (BC) government’s decision to settle with the Blueberry River First Nations (BRFN), rather than appeal against a 2021 court ruling, could be even worse news for Canadian oil and gas development than previous legal decisions to date. Indigenous people in Canada have gained increasing control over industrial development on their lands through several federal Supreme Court decisions over the past two decades. The rulings relate to Section 35 of Canada’s 1982 constitution, which states the federal government must consult First Nations when projects could negatively impact their communities and their traditional way of life. But the Blueberry River decision and recent settlem

Also in this section
23 June 2025
Jet fuel will play crucial role in oil consumption growth even with efficiency gains and environmental curbs, with geopolitical risks highlighting importance of plentiful stocks
23 June 2025
A blockade of the Strait of Hormuz would have reverberations that would sound around the world
20 June 2025
The scale of energy demand growth by 2030 and beyond asks huge questions of gas supply especially in the US
20 June 2025
The Emirati company is ramping up its overseas expansion programme, taking it into new geographic areas that challenge long-held assumptions about Gulf NOCs